CHAPTER 24
GOG-MAGOG – WORLD WAR III
By Doug Krieger
Pergamos Ministries
The Tribulation Network
www.the-tribulation-network.com
MARCHING INTO ARMAGEDDON
It
was in early January, 2003 that “prophetical clarity” seized upon us as
President Bush commenced the reality of his doctrine: Preemptive (unilateral,
if necessary) wars of national interest to spread democracy around the world and
to defeat terrorism and thereby establish the American New World Order System;
i.e., the Commercial Republic, PAX
AMERICANA, the EMPIRE or, if you would, Democratic Globalism.
I’ve included these two chapters in the book under the “Gog-Magog” section in that so much of these “primitive insights” appear nigh prophetic in retrospect. Remember, nearly all of what you read in these two portions was written PRIOR to the Crusade’s euphemism: OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM on March 19/20, 2003 when “Who is able to make war with him” pre-positioned his forces (now on land, not only on sea/air) into ancient Babylon (i.e., Iraq)—the cradle of civilization, the Plains of Shinar, the “Great River Euphrates; thereby setting the state for the Gog-Magog War and the fulfillment of Daniel 11:40-45, Ezekiel 38 and 39, Isaiah 17 and 18 and Zechariah 9.
A lead article commemorating September 11 ran in Ha’aretz (Israel’s leading left newspaper), August, 2004, entitled: World War III is here! The article coincides with American dead passing the 1,000 mark (now in early March, 2005 it has passed the 1,500 mark) since hostilities broke out on March 19, 2003. Thus, the time frames may appear a bit puzzling and chronologically disconnected; however, just keep in mind that all these accounts take place between January, 2003 (most of them) and March, 2005.
Since the commencement of the war justified by Saddam’s WMD, we have been terrorized: Madrid, Beslan, Israel, genocide in Sudan, bombings in Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, along with a cataclysmic tsunami—while the war/insurgency in Iraq rages; and, Afghanistan has become the fulcrum of the international drug trade in opium. All the while, Iran prepares its weapons of mass destruction (IN CONCERT WITH North Korea’s delivery systems) . . . the world IS at war . . . and there is no end in sight. While all this is going on, the ancient Biblical designations in the Middle East continue their alignments leading up to the Gog-Magog conflagration . . .
SAUDI ARABIA ACCUSED BY USA FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! THE FINAL STRAW –
The
United States Commission on International Freedom, an independent group that
receives government funding and offers advice to the US State Department, has
finally gotten through to our US State Department; to wit: Ambassador John V.
Hanford (head of the State Department’s religious freedom office) told a news
conference that Saudi Arabia was
designated a CPC (Countries of Particular Concern).
But that’s not all. Preeta D. Bansal, the commission chair, was really pleased (in an interview) that the Saudi government had made the “list of the world’s most egregious violators of religious freedom . . . its (i.e., Saudi Arabia) propagation and export of an ideology of religious hate and intolerance (is known) throughout the world.”
Ambassador Hanford “cited statements by Saudi ruler Crown Prince Abdullah in support of tolerance and moderation and said numerous Saudi text books have been revised to delete inflammatory references to religious beliefs outside those officially approved . . . ‘BUT PROBLEMS EXIST THAT PUSH THEM OVER THE LINE,’” . . . . according to AP* and Hanford.
*(AP Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.)
Apparently, according to Bansal, the commission, since 1999, had been advocating the inclusion of Saudi Arabia since the commission was founded in that same year.
Listen – we’re talking about the Bush Administration accusing their “comrades in arms” of exporting its IDEOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS HATE AND INTOLERANCE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD! Now, that’s a mouthful – and don’t think it won’t enflame the likes of OBL (Osama bin Laden) and his ilk—you better believe it will. Nothing like a little more fuel to fan the flames of Jihad!
STRIKING
AT THE HEART OF ISLAM
We’re not talking here about some camelback republic like Dubai or an Islamic tiger like Algeria or Egypt—we’re talking about touching the HEART OF ISLAM! Apparently, it’s gotten so obvious and so bad, that there’s no sense trying to hide the obvious any longer—Crown Prince Abdullah and Bandar’s band aides to the contrary! The money trails are overt—all roads lead to MECCA—we buy their oil—they finance our debt—they make billions—they stay in power—they export hate—they enflame Islamic Fundamentalism which in turns kills the West and its American citizens. Oh what a tangled web we weave . . . .
Now, I’m NOT telling you anything new here—what is new is how this is going to play out in the upcoming Gog–Magog conflagration. There is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING—if you understand Islamic culture—that will “tolerate” so-called religious freedom or timid expressions thereof in Mecca’s heart—NOTHING!
Not only that—Islam demands the export of this so-called propaganda—and to think otherwise you’re a diversity crackpot who absurdly contemplates insane notions like: Let’s give peace a chance or (better yet) . . . why can’t we all just get along?
The NATION OF ISLAM is, to Moslems, a “spiritual reality.” When that spiritual reality takes “political hold” through the realization that the “sacred soils of Islam’s shrines” are being invaded by “Crusader Christians”—for that is precisely how they view these charges of “religious intolerance” (i.e., no more than a Satanic ruse to contaminate our sacred shrines and soil)—then it is time to say NO MORE! That’s right—no more of this nonsensical and hellish challenge from the West—and the “Great Satan” of the USA, who leads this charge against Allah’s citadel.
Watch them “Islamic Republics” start popping up all over the place—and not the Saudi Arabian kind in “name only.” We’re talking blatant Shari`ah and Fiqh—on a scale so vast and intense that it’ll make your head spin! And, if you don’t think this is happening all over the Moslem world—you (as certain brethren we know like to say) don’t want to know or you simply refuse to know!
Indeed, WATCH EGYPT – when she caves, they all cave. WATCH TURKEY – when she caves, well—consider: Turkey this week (Sept. 13, 2004) just launched a formal complaint that they’re fed up with the US bombing the minority Turk population in Northern Iraq. That’s it—if we don’t stop, they’ll stop “cooperating” – whatever that means.
SYRIA’S COMPLICITY – ANOTHER SIGN OF “GOG ON THE MOVE”
“The prophecy against Damascus: Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap . . . for the head of Syria is Damascus” (Isaiah 17:1 and 7:8a).
Now, last heard, according to all legitimate encyclopedias, Damascus has been around longer than any city on the planet—continuously lived in for the past 5,000 years—the world’s oldest! But these Hebrew verses are foreboding, aren’t they? Well, in case you’re not clear—let’s put 2 + 2 together:
2
Associated Press
Sept. 1, 2004 10:05 AM
JERUSALEM - Israel holds Syria responsible for a double suicide bombing that killed 16 people because it allows the group that staged the attack to operate there, a senior Israeli official said Wednesday in a warning that implied possible retaliation.
Raanan Gissin, a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, pointed to neighboring Syria on Wednesday, saying Hamas leaders are permitted to work out of the Syrian capital of Damascus.
"The fact that Hamas is operating from Syria will not grant it immunity," Gissin said. Last year Israel attacked targets in Syria after a Palestinian bombing.
+2
US tells Syria to leave Lebanon - BBC - 09/11/2004
A United States envoy has told Syria to pull its long-standing garrison out of Lebanon and stop intervening in its smaller neighbor’s affairs. Speaking after talks in Damascus, William Burns also called on Syria to sever ties with Islamist militants. Syria has 15,000 troops in Lebanon (as of March 6, 2005 Syria blatantly refuses to remove her troops from Lebanon, notwithstanding President Bush’s consternations to the contrary) and allegedly backs the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. The US imposed trade sanctions on Syria this year over these alleged ties and weapons programs. Mr. Burns also raised concern over Syria's perceived failure to prevent anti-US militants entering Iraq via its border.
= 4
“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city”
Incidentally, the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39 is NOT the Gog uprising at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth for 1,000 years (“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7-7).).
No, the initial Gog and Magog conflagration setting is completely different in description when one reads Ezekiel 38-39—read it, you’ll see. But, for those of you who think we just got off the turnip truck last night, and came up with this scenario off the top of our lettuce heads, well, check out what we’ve been saying all along . . .
WE’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR SOME TIME – GOG & MAGOG ARE ON THE RISE!
The
“Gog-Magog War” as recorded in Ezekiel 38-39 was much on my mind as events
rapidly unfolded in the Middle East (cir.
Early February, 2003). I think you will find these accounts exceedingly
interesting (slightly edited from my originals, with essential content and facts
kept) – they are an amazing recordation of immediate history and of prophetic
accuracy as I traveled across the USA visiting with friends and interested
parties . . . virtually all these articles were written and appeared on the web
prior to March 19, 2003—the date of hostilities and commencement of Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
By this Friday, Feb. 21 or next Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, the Bush-Blair deadline will have been unveiled—the UN will have its opportunity to become "relevant" or "irrelevant!" SHOCK & AWE warfare will be witnessed by the whole earth—especially now, since media have been placed in front-line units to transmit SHOCK & AWE to the world! The 21-day countdown will have begun to the Gog Magog War—a war that definitely will ensue in the wake of Gulf War II; it's only a matter of time.
We gathered, some 15 of us from in and around the Bay Area—anticipating the worst; yet, expecting the Church's finest hour. Little people—owners of a glass coating business, a BMW parts person, occult ministry folk, prison ministry people, accountants, musicians—all with an earnest desire to be accounted worthy to testify to His truth and to band together to fight "the great falling away from the faith" all around us!
You ask, how do we expect to make any impression upon "our world" - the world of American global hegemony, of the soon-to-be SHOCK & AWE warfare that will send a message to all nations, especially those of the Middle East and our erstwhile Old European allies, that you don't mess with America and get away with it—let alone "messing with Texas."
I don't think I've ever had a more surreal sense of where I am, while at the same time the nations are gathering like this. At our first meeting in that Santa Cruz living room of Don and Eileen, the oft repeated truism was first uttered: "Who is able to make war with him (i.e., King of Babylon)?" Babylon, and the King of Babylon -- now preparing to launch the physicality of his coming reign over this land of antiquity.
Alas! How do the "Revived Roman Empire," American-Firsters, and Pre-Trib. Rapturists account for such a pending reality? Well, according to Dr. Charles H. Dyer of Moody Bible Institute and his recently revised text, The Rise of Babylon-Is Iraq at the Center of the Final Drama?, he and our "America-is-nowhere-to-be-found-in-prophecy" brethren, are convinced that:
"AMERICA IS STRANGELY ABSENT" – OH REALLY?
(Dyer's Title—is currently EVERYWHERE!) . . . Dyer continues . . .
"So where does the United States fit into the picture? It is clear from Scripture that the dominant political and military power will center around the Mediterranean and Europe—not the United States. By the end times, the United States will no longer be a major influence in the world. But how can this be, especially since we are playing such a major role in the Middle East today? (My emphasis)
"First, it is possible that the United States is not mentioned in prophecy because we will become a second-class international power overnight when God removes Christians from the earth, an event scheduled to occur just before the beginning of this seven-year period. True believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ will be taken to heaven before the Antichrist is revealed. Today as many as half of all Americans claim to be ‘born again,’ or believers in Jesus Christ. If only one-fourth of that number have genuinely made a personal commitment to Christ, then over 28 million Americans will suddenly ‘disappear’ when God removes His church from the earth!
"Can you imagine the effects on our country if over 28 million people-people in industry, government, the military, business, agriculture, education, medicine, and communications—disappear? That is approximately double the entire population of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston all rolled together!"
Dyer's three other reasons why America is NOT mentioned in Bible Prophecy are just as tenuous and pure American chicanery as his first postulate . . . but wait, Dyer's insights on Saddam Hussein are even more absurd:
"Hussein
has baffled both his own countrymen and Western foreign policy analysts. While
the world struggles to penetrate the enigma of Saddam Hussein, we can find an
important, God-given clue in the Bible. The key to the mystery of Saddam Hussein
is Babylon. From Genesis to Revelation,
Babylon occupies a unique position in God's Word. Today the once-dead city is
being revived by Saddam Hussein, who seeks to establish and lead an
international power paralleling the glory of ancient Babylon.
"The Bible forecasts the rebuilding of Babylon, and here, before my eyes (Dyer was on a tour of the ancient ruins of Babylon in Iraq), was another thrilling proof that Bible prophesies are infallible. But the Bible also reveals that the rebuilt Babylon will be brutally and suddenly destroyed with such force that not even one stone will ever be used again."
The satellite view of Dyer's "Rebuilt Babylon"
is laughable. It looks like a bunch of out buildings with miniatures of Ishtar's
gates—akin to a miniature Lyon Train set that some retiree had put together in
his back garage! To allow a Christian perspective like Dyer's to define us as
intellectuals is to consign all Christendom, in the eyes of the world,
perpetually to the third grade. If "fightin' fundies" aren't the laughingstock
of the entire world—they should be real soon! The "theological embarrassment"
awaiting Dyer and scores of other geo-political 
comedians—only
exposes the soft underbelly of the Pre-Trib Rapture theory. Now, the real King
of Babylon marches into Baghdad (along with his "crusader allies of the American
Christian Right" in prayerful support; check out the above Gates of Ishtar and
US troops visiting ancient sites!). Professor Dyer should know better. What he
is positing is so absurd, because the FACTS speak for themselves—both
geo-politically and biblically!
We
are about to be revealed as the geo-political nincompoops of the world. Are our
dear brethren, like Dyer, LaHaye, Lindsey, Van Impe, et al, locked in a time
warp of Nineteenth Century Pretribulationalism? Boldly they declare the
rebuilding of this mystical city of antiquity! Yet, their Pretribulational
forebears (even contemporary ones) just as boldly proclaimed, without fear of
man, that America was the Babylon of the Last Days: S. Franklin Logsden (former
pastor of the Moody Memorial Church) admitted in 1967, that today's America is
the Babylon of the Last Days prophesied throughout the Scriptures.
Be it theological intransigence, convoluted exegesis, or fear of appearing unpatriotic—(and, ipso facto, loosing vital sources of funding)—our brothers and sisters in Christ who rely upon these American Christian leaders to square with them, when it comes to Bible Prophecy, are about to experience the theological SHOCK & AWE of their lives.
In
Santa Cruz (January 2003) we lamented the sorry state of the American Church and
its parochial, but dangerous, understanding of both the geopolitical and
Scriptural realities of our day—no wonder the world adjudges our "prophetical
insights" at best as absurd and at worst as moneymaking schemes which tickle the
ears of the prosperous American Church! Oh Lord, give us more Logsdens who had
the spiritual guts, Scriptural integrity and "sense of their times" to level
with God's people and warn us all that we, as American Christians, are living in
the very midst of Babylon the Great!
THE GOG-MAGOG WAR or KING OF THE NORTH/KING OF THE SOUTH vs. ANTICHRIST (a bit of a sidebar for now)
Later on in Daniel 11:40-45 we read that the Antichrist (according to Robert Duncan Culver in his classic: Daniel in the Latter Days—Moody Press) has, apparently, positioned his forces in the area between the King of the North and the King of the South (NOTE: These North/South forces are referred to in Ezekiel 38-39 as Gog/Magog (northern nations—Gomer, Magog, Tubal, Mesheck, Beth-Togarmah and Iran or Persia—all of these nations are located in Turkey or the Trans-Caucuses); in addition to these "King of the North Nations," a number of nations to the south of Israel (the Beautiful Land) are mentioned, among which are Ethiopia and Libya. Then in Daniel 11:44-45 the Gog/Magog war is expanded upon; although this time instead of Israel being the object of attack (Ezekiel), Antichrist is the object, who evidently is located somewhere in the Middle East north of Israel-the Bible doesn't specify where.
In Daniel 11:40-45 Gog is referred to as the King of the North; and another entity is introduced as the "King of the South." Now, Egypt is introduced as being allied with Ethiopia and Libya, along with other unnamed countries south of the Holy Land. Now, the King of the North and the King of the South attack—and the object of their attack is Antichrist. We will discuss (in light of America's current invasion and troop placements) the unbelievable significance of the above Gog/Magog conflict which is nigh upon us. I have referred to the fact that the current invasion of Iraq, by America, and the incredible placement of nearly a quarter million American troops in Iraq, is the fuse that will light the Gog/Magog conflagration.
It is no small thing that Israel (target of Ezekiel 38-39 of the forces of Gog/Magog) and the forces of Antichrist—King of Babylon—(target of the forces of both King of the North and King of the South in Daniel 11) find that their "mutual concerns" against Gog/Magog—King of the North/South (undoubtedly strengthened through "your Covenant with Death and your agreement with Hell" ("The Covenant with the Many" wherein Antichrist underwrites Israel's security in a Defense Pact), appear united in their efforts to defeat the forces of Gog/Magog and/or the King of the North and the King of the South.
My friends, Gog/Magog are NOT the forces of Antichrist; neither (in spite of certain misconstrued chapter headlines placed by Bible editors) is the conflagration of Daniel 11 pitting the King of the South against the King of the North.
I realize that the above is very difficult (at this time) to understand (i.e., the relationship of the Gog/Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39 and the conflict between the King of the North/King of the South and Antichrist in Daniel 11); however, they are inseparably bound together and have now taken on unbelievable significance as we face the countdown to the Gog/Magog War; while American forces commence to light the fuse with the current invasion of ancient Babylon. We will discuss this amazing sequence of Biblical events later . . . first, however, I wish to shed some light on the Antichrist, who will amass those forces which will intervene on Israel’s behalf, against the forces of Gog-Magog.
THE "GRECO-ROMAN" NATURE OF ANTICHRIST
Notwithstanding, the incredibly profound interest we have in the above subject, because of the current drama now unfolding in the Middle East, the main reason I have addressed the description the "Little Horn" of Daniel 7 and 8, is to draw attention to both his "Roman" (Daniel 7) and his "Greco" (Daniel 8) nature (i.e., of the Antichrist, the King of Babylon). It is mandatory to understand that "The Coming Prince" (the title of Sir Robert Anderson's classic, which delves into Daniel's revelation of the Antichrist at great length) is the leader of Western Civilization or, is "Greco-Roman" in his nature.
Once it is fully realized that this "Coming Prince" is so depicted in Daniel 7 and 8, and that the description of him is both Roman and Greek—it can be easily surmised that what we have here is a "progression" of not only the Gentile World Powers (Babylon, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman), but of the "emergence" of this end-times leader. The epitome of Western Civilization has been expanding until this very day, where it has reached its final fruition in the American New World Order System. What you are witnessing today, my friends, is the final form of Western Civilization and the leadership of that civilization embodied in the American New World Order System.
THE GOG-MAGOG FUSE WILL BE LIT
Some of our Journey Readers misunderstood what we meant by the commencement of the Gog-Magog War taking place within three weeks or so. Precisely, it (Gulf War II) is the "fuse that will light the Gog-Magog Conflagration." The "alignment" of forces currently taking place in the Middle East, virtually fits the coalition of forces aligned against Israel—now that Turkey is fallen into the "Pro-Islamic Camp." But let's consider the development of "evangelical thought" concerning the Gog-Magog alliance:
Most Biblical expositors have identified God and Magog as Russia and her socialist allies of Eastern Europe. This view was popular until the communist world was swept away between 1989 and 1991. Dwight Pentecost and John Walvoord were of that view.
These expositors felt that "Rosh" bore an uncanny resemblance to "Russia" and "Mesheck" sounds a lot like "Moscow." Likewise, "Tubal" sounds very strangely like "Tobolsk." Thus, the tendency to conclude that these designations signified a link with Russia seemed quite possible—it seemed irresistible, even compelling to so conclude.
The textual problem, however, in identifying "Russia with Gog and Magog was that those who did so were forced to extend the range of those nomads identified in the ancient texts as "Rosh," "Mesheck," and "Tubal" far beyond (and to the north) of those areas where the ancients had originally located them (i.e., around that area which is today called Iran and the regions which encompass Turkey and the Black and Caspian Seas.
The truth is, however, the ancients never believed that these tribes (i.e., nations) extended north of the Black and Caspian Seas - NEVER!
GOG-MAGOG "PARTNERS IN CRIME"
Now-let's consider the factual Biblical coalition of Gog-Magog; one thing is certain, all these nations are found within primarily Islamic locations today:
The Northern Confederacy:
(1) Gog-the actual "Angelic Principality" that shall bestir the northern confederacy of nations against Israel.
(2) The "Land of Magog" - those nations allied under Gog
(3) Rosh—is a designation for the tribes then north of the Taurus Mountains near the Caucasus (still in Turkey)
(4) Gomer and Beth-Togarmah—are ancient names of the people now living in Turkey, Kurdistan, and the Islamic states of the Caucasus.
(5) Tubal and Meshech—clearly within the current boundaries of (4) above.
(6) Persia-Needs no explanation as to its location
The Southern Confederacy:
(1) Ethiopia (Cush)—South of Egypt (Modern-day Sudan)
(2) Libya (Put)—West of Egypt
(3) Note: In Daniel 11:40-45 "Egypt" is included in the Southern Confederation; this is the same war, except, its focus of attack is against the forces of Antichrist (but it does not exclude the focus of the attack in Ezekiel 38-39, which is against Israel).
In Daniel 11:40-45 the figure of Antiochus Epiphanes is MOPHED into that of Antichrist. Robert Duncan Culver's, "Daniel and the Latter Years," clearly delineates the pronouns to unmistakably bring the "King of the North" (i.e., Gog) and the "King of the South" in a "pincer movement" against Antichrist and his PRE-POSITIONED FORCES-FORCES which, according to Daniel shall:
". . . Enter the countries (of the King of the North), overwhelm them, and pass through" (Daniel 11:40b). Furthermore, at this point, he (Antichrist) shall enter the “Glorious Land” (i.e., Israel—defeating those allied against Israel as found in Ezekiel 38-39) and many countries shall be overthrown. It seems obvious, that Antichrist's forces, in order to effect such a maneuver, would, of necessity, have pre-positioned his forces to defeat the forces of the King of the North—and then to enter the Glorious Land, defeating the armies on the mountains of Israel’s north.
In its strictest sense, the “Northern Confederacy” is comprised of those nations we have mentioned—most of whom are Islamic and geographically below Russia. Pre-Trib fascination with a “Northern Confederacy” comprised of Russia and perhaps a number of these Islamic “northern tiered” nations is utterly erroneous when considering the ancient tribal lands mentioned in the Bible who will comprise any Northern confederation of nations—they are all (today) Islamic, as so mentioned.)
It is at this point that Antichrist shall turn his attention to the Southern Confederacy/The King of the South. "He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels."
GERMANY & FRANCE—YOU'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE
After solidly defeating the King of the North and the King of the South a most interesting conflict ensues:
"But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many" (Daniel 11:44)
Apparently (and this is NOT the Battle of Armageddon which occurs at the end of the 70th Week of Daniel—the Gog/Magog War takes place at the commencement of the 70th Week of Daniel), Antichrist is enraged about what's happening to the "north" (certainly not the King of the North who’s already been defeated), and, something that needs to be "handled" in the east. We must leave this purposefully vague—but today's problems "in the north" and, soon to be "in the east" should be disconcerting to those above and beyond the aforementioned nations of the Gog/Magog alignment of nations. We hate to be so vague—notwithstanding the title of this section.
The fuse is about to be lit. The PRE-POSITIONING of forces of the New King of Babylon—is that what we are about to witness? There NEVER has been anything like this—EVER! Therefore, how close are we to the Defense Pact, or “a covenant (i.e., "Treaty") with Death and Hell”—a "covenant with the many" (Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:18)?